Lead paint disclosure: the federal rule every pre-1978 rental falls under

Which properties this applies to

The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Title X) requires disclosure on residential rental properties built before 1978, when the federal government banned lead-based paint for residential use. The rule applies in every state. If you don't know a property's construction date, treat it as covered until records show otherwise.

What the disclosure requires

Before a tenant signs the lease, landlords must disclose known lead-based paint information for the unit, provide the EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home," and attach a signed Lead Warning Statement to the lease or as an addendum. Keep the signed records for at least three years.

Penalties

HUD's inflation-adjusted maximum for a lead disclosure violation is $22,263 per violation, per its 2025 adjustment. Each missing part of the disclosure for each lease can count as a separate violation. Tenants who were not properly disclosed to may also sue for treble damages. Confirm current penalty amounts with HUD and EPA, since they are adjusted for inflation.

The part that gets missed

The disclosure applies at every new lease, not just the first one. Landlords who handle it at the first signing often miss it at renewal or turnover. Add it to your calendar for each new tenant on a pre-1978 unit, and keep the signed records where you can retrieve them for three years.